Most of all, Jim pursued mass transit issues tenaciously. Rutenberg and the News were the unsung heroes of the coming of monthly and weekly transit passes to NYC's buses and subways. When news of NYC Transit's budget surplus broke in the Fall of 1997, Jim sank his teeth into the issue and wouldn't let go - the News' almost daily coverage of the issue put tremendous pressure on Governor Pataki. "In 20 years of working with transit reporters, Jim was one of the best," said Straphangers Campaign's Gene Russianoff.